Student Portfolio

The Story of My Learning Starts Here

February 2, 2020
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Term 2 G12 Tabitha Reflection

LO2- Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

In this term, we undertook the challenge of promoting our Global Concern at Burns Night to raise money for the foundation. We also met up with the founder of the organization and discussed their efforts and our plans to help them. By undertaking new challenges I learned skills of organization of larger events. However, the event didn’t go through in the end due to external factors that we couldn’t control.

LO7-Recognise and consider the ethics implications of choices and actions.

We had a discussion with the founder of Tabitha regarding the ethical implications of our silk sales in terms of protecting the environment. One problem we identified was the overuse of plastic with the wrappings of the products in transportation. However, it is difficult to make this change, but we will consider other impacts in the future.

February 2, 2020
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Term 2 G12 Jazz Band

For Term 2 of Jazz Band, I performed in the Wavelength concert yet again.

LO1-Identify their own strengths and develop areas for growth

I have identified my strengths and areas for growth within the band and as a whole. Supporting the weaker parts and reinforcing the stronger parts is something I still need to work towards within the band. Furthermore, leadership within the saxophones is something I need to work on too.

LO3-Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience

Another objective in Term 2 is having a new type of end of year performance at Esplanade that hasn’t been done by this group before. This experience in a professional environment will drive me to practice more and plan for a bigger concert in a more serious environment.

December 13, 2019
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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RC 3 Viva Voce

Throughout the process of writing this EE, I thoroughly enjoyed researching and learning about the whole new concept of quantum computing, encompassing both physics and computer science. My main weakness in doing this topic was my lack of understanding of the complex mathematics and physics properties behind quantum computing. Revisiting this topic later on in my education, when I understand fully the mechanics behind these computations, will be an enlightening experience. However, this aspect of my EE that made it challenging is what made my research process interesting. By mainly using primary scholarly sources directly published from researchers in universities, my understanding increase in accuracy in this sometime misinterpreted or miscommunicated topic. The technical part of my research process included becoming part of the IBMQx and Qiskit online community, learning from and interacting with experts in the field. Unfortunately, I was not able to investigate my original aim in quantum computing algorithms due to technical constraints, where I could not perform accurate measurements on experiments remotely. I had to reach a compromise with a topic that is measurable but less practical. Perhaps it is possible to explore this field when I have access to improved available technology and more research.

December 5, 2019
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Intertexuality in Language and Literature

How does intertextuality contribute to meaning within texts?

Intertextuality contribute to the meaning within texts through a shared frame of reference with its audiences. By using intertextuality, the text will not only have meaning to the general public, another meaning can be formed through the understanding of the references and allusions. This property of intertextual texts appeals to specific audiences and allow the author to further narrow the target audience. Through this, the ideas the author communicates is strengthened for the specific target audience. The values and context of the referenced text can also contribute to the context of the main text without any further explanation, thus, allowing the audience to understand and interpret on their own.

What is gained and lost through the use of intertextuality?

Context behind the message conveyed in a text is gained through the referenced text. By referring or alluding to another text, values and context behind those texts are transferred to the main text. Furthermore, having a shared frame of reference with the target audience creates covert prestige, allowing ideas to be conveyed with more reliability. However, the use of intertextuality may result in loss of meaning for other audiences who don’t get the text. Although sometimes it may be seen as a benefit, a smaller audience would mean that the message conveyed will be to a smaller audience and may have a lesser impact.

October 14, 2019
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Term 1 G12 Jazz Band

As for my creativities, I joined the Jazz Band again as the first tenor.

LO2- Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

The new piece played in the jazz band was quite hard compared to the pieces in the year before. I developed my skills in jazz playing and score reading.

LO5-Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively

Working with new members in the Jazz band also has proven to be a challenge. As members have left and new members have joined, we now have a disproportionate group of clarinets and flutes, usually not present in Jazz bands. This means that I have to accommodate with the new players. 

October 14, 2019
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Term 1 G12 Tabitha Reflection

This year, I joined again in the Tabitha GC.

LO4-Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences

I have done this CAS experience for 3 years already, and I intend to do a 4th year. This shows my commitment to the cause.

LO6-Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

This year, we deal more with fund raising, including planning for a donation drive at a parents’ dinner.

October 14, 2019
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Project Week Post-reflection

Project week was something that I felt fulfilled all 7 learning outcomes in CAS.

LO1-Identify their own strengths and develop areas for growth.

I identified many of my strengths and weaknesses living in the jungle for a week. My strength lies in organizing, working, and collaboration while my weaknesses lies in communication, especially with people who don’t understand my language.

LO2- Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.

Going outside of the country for a whole week without supervision was a huge challenge. The challenges of costs in unexpected areas, unexpected events, and even the procedures to take care of oneself were undertaken. Immersing myself in the jungle with no technology and no electricity was another challenge.

LO3-Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience

The planning for project week lasted over months. The details where I discussed my development was written in another blogpost.

LO4-Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences. Students can articulate the stages from conceiving an idea to executing a plan for a CAS experience or series of CAS experiences.

I showed commitment by carrying out the plan we had. Actually doing physical labor in the hot sun was very tiring and pushed me to my physical limits. Living without any electricity and access to the outer world pushed me out of my comfort zone.

LO5-Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively

Obviously, the project week was a team effort. Without the help of my teammates, the trip wouldn’t be as successful. I also contributed my part in the group, communicating with organizations and planning for activities.

LO6-Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

The issues we dealt with in deforestation of Borneo rainforest is a significant issue in our world. We engaged with this issue by learning about the movements done to help combat this.

 

 

September 22, 2019
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Interim Reflection 2 (RC2)

Having unable to apply experiments to quantum algorithms with a real quantum computer, I looked into a more practical side concerning quantum decoherence, measurable on the online IBM Quantum Experience computer yet extremely relevant to the future and functionality of quantum computers. Thus far, my research has been fairly successful. I was able to find multiple scholarly sources on research projects about quantum decoherence, and my experiment with the IBMQx has been successful with both the online interface and Qiskit environment. I also learnt a lot about quantum mechanics and how it applies to quantum computing through online college lectures. To be able to explain the advanced concepts of quantum computing to my audience, I need to first understand them well, starting from the basics. My supervisor has asked me to find a variety of sources and justify my arguments further and ensure credibility of my research. I will read papers pertaining to other parts of quantum computing.

August 26, 2019
by yin72257@gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg
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Summer Reading

What you read:

Over the summer, the Hong Kong protests were at its climax. I followed many news sources reporting on the events including state owned news sources from mainland China.

Personal Response:

For me, I discovered the vast differences in perspectives between the news sources in mainland China and western news and how, sometimes, facts are distorted to fit an overarching narrative. Instead of reporting on “fake news” and falsified events, both China and foreign sources contain some sort of bias. For instance, China obviously avoids reporting about police brutality happening and undercover policemen pretending to be protestors and instead focuses on how a reporter from Chinese news sources was beaten by the protestors and calling for aid from mainland Chinese residents. On the other hand, there was little to no coverage on how the protest affected innocent people travelling through the Hong Kong airport as well as violence towards Chinese reporters. For me, it was very horrifying to realize that news sources would completely ignore events in order to fit a narrative that pleases the readers, especially with such major issues when Hong Kong protestors are fighting for such a significant cause.

Literary/Non-Literary Feature:

On the mainland China side, the articles appeal to pathos a lot, calling for action by appealing to the patriotic emotions of the Chinese citizens. A lot of propaganda techniques are also used such as name-calling the protestors as “rioters” and simplification of the issue by portraying protestors as blood thirsty young people that want independence. Card stacking is also a very common technique used by both sides to form the general narrative. A lot of the non-literary features are present in the comment sections of articles, where two sides are likely to argue intensely with each other.

Concept:

The reading I have done greatly relates to the concept of ideology between two sides clashing. The context behind the beliefs and values of each side is different and the target audience of the articles influence how they are written and what the contents are.

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